A young rugby player from Somerset found dead at his home last year intended to take his own life, an inquest has heard.

Elliott Griffin was a popular rugby player at the Richard Huish College in Taunton and the University of Plymouth and Tiverton RFC in Devon.

The 21-year-old was a scrum half, but was moved to the pack and earned the nickname Hibbard - after the Wales and British Lion Richard Hibbard - for his hard-hitting tackling.

The trainee surveyor was found hanged in the garage at his home in Hawks Drive, Tiverton, Devon, in October last year.

An inquest in Exeter heard that he was a "young, fit man" who had no mental health issues, and that he "seemed well as usual" on the day he died.

Police said he left no clues on social media, no notes and had said nothing to his best friend who he had been out with the previous evening.

"He was completely shocked and could not think of any reason when this could have happened," the inquest was told by a detective who investigated the death.

Assistant coroner Lydia Brown said there was a "complete lack of explanation" for Mr Griffin's actions.

She said: "No one has had an explanation of what was going through his mind that day. He did those actions alone in a secluded place where he was not being disturbed. I am satisfied his intent was to take his own life."

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She told his family that it was "an immense, inexplicable grief" and a "dreadful loss of life of a young man with so much to live for".

Rugby pals at Plymouth University said: "He was never one to back down on the pitch and was a real game changer.

"Hibbard will probably be best remembered for his antics off the field. For those of us who were lucky enough to have met him, we will never forget that cheeky smile."

The coroner recorded a finding of suicide.

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Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org .

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Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It doesn’t have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information. http://www.depressionalliance.org/

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying. http://studentsagainstdepression.org/

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